Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Ashes on piano
Written by Jordan Smith, Patrick Martin & others
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 56 BPM
- 2018
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Ashes in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Eb – Cm – Bb – Eb – Ab – Eb – Cm – Bb – Eb
How it goes
Ashes sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 10 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Cm is C, Eb and G; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIVEbICmviBbVEbIAbIVEbICmviBbVEbI- AbAb · C · Eb
- EbEb · G · Bb
- CmC · Eb · G
- BbBb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Rock hop
How it goes
Low, high, a quick double, then high again: a hopping rock bass. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 809 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 56 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb
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Questions about Ashes
What chords are in Ashes?
The loop is Ab – Eb – Cm – Bb – Eb – Ab – Eb – Cm – Bb – Eb (IV – I – vi – V – I – IV – I – vi – V – I) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Ashes in?
Eb major, at about 56 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Ashes?
Rock hop: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Ashes easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 10 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Ashes?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.